By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the circulation of counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat products in Lagos, warning of serious health risks to infants.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, the agency disclosed that Nestle Nigeria Plc, the legitimate Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) of the product, reported a complaint regarding suspected counterfeit items allegedly manufactured by Nestlé Spain with Batch Code 308002910.
According to NAFDAC, the complainant observed that the product emitted an unusual odour suggestive of possible contamination, including contact with fuel.
Preliminary investigations by Nestlé Nigeria revealed that the product had expired, despite bearing an expiry date of October 2026, indicating that the date may have been tampered with or revalidated.
The agency stated that its Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) Directorate carried out a follow-up inspection at Maxland Shopping Centre, where the product was purchased.
During the visit, officials discovered the suspected counterfeit and unregistered products on sale and promptly removed them from circulation.
Further checks by Nestlé helped identify differences between genuine and fake products, noting that unregistered variants used a hyphen (-) in date formatting, while authentic products used a slash (/).
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit infant formula products may lack essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for proper growth and development, and could also contain harmful contaminants capable of causing severe health complications or even death in infants.
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The agency urged healthcare professionals, distributors, retailers and caregivers to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of counterfeit or substandard products through its official channels.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health, stating that all zonal directors and state coordinators had been directed to intensify surveillance efforts and remove any identified fake products from circulation nationwide.
It also cautioned stakeholders across the supply chain to exercise due diligence to prevent the distribution and sale of falsified regulated products.
